Building a Garden Shed – Essential Tips You Need Know
By R. S. Larson
As you read every word of this article, you will discover the key to make your building garden shed a fun and exciting project and how to avoid a few costly mistakes that will save you time and money. As a Do-it-yourself type myself, I have made a few mistakes along the way that have cost me in extra time, money and effort. I can only imagine that someone wanting to take on this type construction project would want to know how to not make the same costly mistakes I did, right?
Imagine for a moment, the satisfaction you will have as you are enjoying a nice sunny afternoon in the back yard with a few friends, sipping on your favorite cool beverage, while they admire your handy work! What I have found is that a building garden shed project can be either a bit of a nightmare, or a great experience you may even share with your kids, spouse, or a friend as you build your shed. Of course, we want it to go smoothly, so some thought and preparation BEFORE you start the construction of your building garden shed will be well worth it.Time spent now in thinking the project through will be time well spent and more than made up for ease of the construction process.First, you need to make sure the space you have in mind is level, firm ground, suitable for a structure, as you will need to do building site preparation for the foundation. This can make a huge difference in the building as well as the finished project. You want your doors and windows to be square and open and close with ease, and a level foundation is essential.
Second, You are going to need some basic construction tools as well, such as a good hammer, level, plumb bob, chalk line, circular saw (commonly called skill saw), drill with various bits and a driver tip for screws will be handy as well. Some of the more expensive items, like a skill saw you may be able to rent at your local rental store too. Be sure to have a good sharp blade to make your cuts with ease. A dull blade is a big hassle and one to avoid, especially since you can pick up a blade for pretty cheap.
Third, you are going to need a complete materials list. Your construction materials list should be as complete as possible so you can “shop” your material list around to different lumber and material supply stores to get the best competitive price. If you purchase your materials as a package, you can save yourself some additional dollars as well. Be sure to include your windows and door, and door hardware, along with nails and screws to get the best pricing on ALL your supplies. Also, don’t forget about paint, stain, brushes, rollers, or any other kind of finishing supplies. These items are often overlooked, but you will have to apply some kind of weather protection so your new garden shed will last and look attractive for years to come.
Forth and…Here is the BIG one. You are going to need a good quality set of plans (or blue prints) for your building garden shed project. I cannot stress how important this often overlooked item is. A good accurate set of plans can and will make the difference in whether building your shed goes smooth or you end up running back to the material store over and over for lumber and other things you thought you had enough of…but didn’t. A good set of building garden shed plans will also outline the materials you need, and it will show you the cuts and sizes of the materials and supply a material list, so you can have your lumber package delivered as complete as possible.
Drawing up your own building garden shed plans is possible, but for the average do it yourself type, often it is an overwhelming task. As you begin building, you need a set of plans with detailed instructions to follow so you know how to properly construct your new garden shed. Proper spacing of your wall studs, floor joist and roof and ceiling rafters as well so your finished shed is well constructed to withstand the seasons and weather.
As you can see, the importance of a good set of building garden shed plans is the most important tool you can have. As you finish your project and admire your work, you will look back and smile at how well it all went…if you have a good set of plans to help and guide you. I want this to be a good experience for you too, so you will continue with other projects you may have been thinking about. With a brand new garden shed in your back yard, and your growing experience in your carpentry skills, you will have confidence to tackle that next project on your “honey do” list, and the confidence, to do it!
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